FI20216066A1

FI20216066A1 - Extension module of surface drill rig

Info

Publication number: FI20216066A1
Application number: FI20216066A
Authority: FI
Inventors: Juha Säärelä; Timo Kämäräinen
Original assignee: Arctic Drilling Company Oy Ltd
Priority date: 2021-10-15
Filing date: 2021-10-15
Publication date: 2023-04-16
Also published as: CA3178428A1; SE2251158A1; SE545467C2; NO20221089A1; DK202270493A1

Abstract

An extension module (100) of a surface drill rig comprising a floor (104) and walls (106) configured to form an internal space, a coupling interface (108) configured to enable coupling of the extension module to the surface drill rig such that the internal space of the extension module is combined with an internal space of the surface drill rig and at least one tank (110) for a drilling fluid having a fluid connection to a drilling process.

Description

Extension Module of Surface Drill Rig

Field

The invention relates to a field of surface drill rigs.

Background

A space may be very limited in the surface drill rigs in which handling of drilling samples is performed inside the surface drill rigs. Due to the limited space, some of essential features may not be integrated to the surface drill rigs.

Instead, said features may be separate which makes the structure complex.

Hence, there is a need for a solution to alleviate the drawbacks in the known surface drill rigs.

Brief description

The present invention is defined by the subject matter of the independent claims.

Embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

The embodiments and features, if any, described in this specification that do not fall under the scope of the independent claim are to be interpreted as examples useful for understanding various embodiments of the invention.

List of drawings

Example embodiments of the present invention are described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

N Figure 1 illustrate an extension module according to embodiment of the 5 invention; = Figure 2 illustrate the extension module coupled with a surface drill rig > from a first view according to embodiment of the invention; and

S 25 Figure 3 illustrate the extension module coupled with a surface drill rig & from a second view according to embodiment of the invention. 3

Description of embodiments

The following embodiments are only examples. Although the specification may refer to “an” embodiment in several locations, this does not necessarily mean that each such reference is to the same embodiment(s), or that the feature only applies to a single embodiment. Single features of different embodiments may also be combined to provide other embodiments. Furthermore, words "comprising" and "including" should be understood as not limiting the described embodiments to consist of only those features that have been mentioned and such embodiments may contain also features/structures that have not been specifically mentioned. All combinations of the embodiments are considered possible if their combination does not lead to structural or logical contradiction.

A surface drill rig (also drill rig later in this application) in this application refers to an apparatus in which handling of drilling samples and drilling process can be performed inside the drilling rig. Handling of the drilling samples may refer to removal of the samples from the drilling process and washing of the samples, for example. Therefore, the surface drill rig comprises an internal space (cabin) in which controlling devices are and also a space for handling of the drilling samples. The internal space may be heated since the surface drill rig may be used at low temperatures. A drawback in this kind of the surface drill rig is limited inner space. Due to the limited space, some of essential features of the surface drilling rigs may not be integrated to the surface drill rigs. Instead, said features may be separate making the structure of the surface drill rigs complex.

N According to an aspect, there is provided an extension module of a

N surface drill rig comprising a floor and walls configured to form an internal space, = 25 a coupling interface configured to enable coupling of the extension module to the - surface drill rig such that the internal space of the extension module is combined j with an internal space of the surface drill rig and at least one tank for a drilling fluid & having a fluid connection to a drilling process. = Figure 2 illustrates the surface drill rig 102 with the extension module

N 30 100 according to an embodiment. The extension module may be coupled to a first end FE and/or a second end SE of the surface drill rig such that it extends a length of the drill rig in a longitudinal direction L. It may be coupled to a rear end of the surface drill rig as illustrated in Figure 2 and 3. A width W and height H of external dimensions of the extension module may be substantially the same as in the drilling rig. It is also possible to couple the extension module to a first side FS and/or a second side SS of the drill rig.

Referring to Figure 1, in an embodiment, the drill rig comprises the floor 104 and walls 106. The floor and walls are configured to form the internal space IS (interior), in other words, the internal space is covered by the walls from at least some sides and from the bottom. The internal space is configured to be combined — with the internal space of the drill rig when the extension module is coupled with the drill rig. The internal spaces of the extension module and drill rig form one whole space such that an operator of the drill rig can move between the extension module and drill rig. The internal spaces of the extension module and drill rig form one whole space such that an operator of the drill rig can move between the extension module and drill rig. In an embodiment, the common internal space formed by the extension module and the drill rig may comprise at least one door that divides the common internal space in two or more parts. For example, there may be the door between the extension module and the drill rig that divides the internal space in two rooms. Hence, the internal space of the extension module and the drill rig are combined when they are coupled together despite the door that may divide the internal space in two or more parts.

In an embodiment, the extension module comprises the coupling

N interface 108 configured to enable coupling of the extension module to the drill rig.

N The coupling interface may be one side of the extension module, like illustrated in = 25 Figure 1, having coupling members 120. The coupling members of the coupling - interface are used to fix the extension module to the drill rig. The coupling interface i may comprise sealing and/or insulation material(s) to seal the interface between & the extension module and drill rig. The extension module may not be in a direct = contact with a ground when itis coupled with the drill rig, it is in contact with the

N 30 ground only via drill rig. Hence, there may not be any extra support element(s)

between the ground and the extension module. This enables moving of the drill rig with the extension module.

In an embodiment, the extension module 100 comprises at least one tank 110 configured to store the drilling fluid wherein the tank 110 is in the fluid connection to the drilling process. Hence, the drilling fluid can be fed from the tank to the drilling process. The fluid connection may comprise a pipeline and/or hose, for example. The tank may be coupled with atleast one pump configured to provide force for feeding the drilling fluid. The tank and/or pump may be coupled with a controlling device for controlling the feeding of the drilling fluid from the tank to the drilling process. The drilling fluid may be fed to a drilling hole, for example.

The drilling fluid may be a combination of water and one or more additives. The drilling fluid is used to cool down the drill, rinse the drilling hole and/or removing fines (fine fractions) from the drilling hole. The water may be received from natura] sources like lake, pond, creek, or river, for example. Water may also be received from an old drilling hole and/or there may be a separate movable water reservoir (tank) for water. The one or more additives may be in canisters and added to the tank and mixed with water. One or more pumps may be used for feeding water and/or additives into the tank. There may be a connection for adding the additives in the tank(s). The additives may be stored in the extension module, for example. The additives are selected based on a soil of a destination wherein the drilling process is performed. The additive may be liguid and/or powder.

N The tank is conventionally a separate component placed outside of the

N surface drill rig which makes structure complex and it also impairs usability. = 25 Placing the tank outside of the drill rig also exposes the tank to environment - conditions that may diminish a life span of the tank. In addition, many activities i related to the tank must be performed outside. The extension module according to & the invention enables integration of the tank to the surface drill rig such that it = enables simple structure of the drill rig as well as improves the usability.

In an embodiment, the extension module 100 comprises a first and a second tanks 110A, 110B for the drilling fluid wherein both tanks have the fluid connection to the drilling process as illustrated in Figure 1. The tanks may be placed side by side and they may extend substantially from the floor to the roof level of the extension module. The tanks may be separate from each other such that when the drilling fluid is fed from one tank, it does not affect the drilling fluid level 5 of the other tank. For example, the first tank may be used first for feeding the drilling fluid to the drilling process and when the first tank is empty, the second tank is used for feeding. The tank that is not used for feeding may be filled with a new batch of the drilling fluid. Then there is always available one tank which is full of the drilling fluid and there are no needs to stop the drilling process because of lack of the drilling fluid. In an embodiment, the first and the second tanks have the fluid connection such that fluid can be transferred between them.

In an embodiment, the tank 110A, 110B comprises a mixer configured to mix water and the additives to form the drilling fluid. The mixer may be inside the tank, for example, on the bottom of the tank.

In an embodiment, the first and the second tanks form one wall of the extension module. In other words, the tanks delimit the internal space of the extension module from one side as illustrated in Figure 1. There may be an access to both tanks from the internal space of the extension module. There may be controlling components and/or connectors in the sides of the tanks that delimit the internal space of the extension module, and hence the operator of the drill rig has the access to the components and connectors from inside of the extension module.

The tanks may have a service hatch. The service hatch may be inside or outside of

N the extension module.

N In an embodiment, when the first tank is configured to feed the drilling = 25 fluid to the drilling process, the second tank is configured to be used to produce the - drilling fluid. As described earlier, the drilling fluid may be a combination of water i and the additives that are mixed. For example, the first tank may be used to feed & the drilling fluid to the drilling process and the second tank may be used to form = more drilling fluid by combining water and the additives.

In another embodiment, the second tank is configured to feed the drilling fluid to the drilling process and the first tank is configured to be used to produce the drilling fluid. This may take place when the first tank is empty, for example. This means that the first and the second tank can be used such that one of the tanks feeds the drilling liquid to the drilling process and one of the tanks produces more drilling fluid. The function of the tanks can be changed when the tank that is used for feeding the drilling liquid is empty or there is some other reason to change the function of the tank. The reason may relate to a malfunction situation, for example. In other words, the first and the second tank are configured to be used such that one of the tanks is used for feeding and other one for producing the drilling liquid, or such that both tanks are used for feeding the drilling fluid to the drilling process, or such that both tanks are used for producing the drilling fluid.

The function (mode) of each tank may be changed at any time.

In an embodiment, the operator of the drill rig may determine which one of the tanks is used for feeding and which one is used for producing the drilling fluid. In other words, the operator determines the function of each tank. The determination may be done in a control panel of the drill rig, for example. In addition, or instead, the tank may comprise controlling interface used for determining the function of the tank(s).

In an embodiment, the first and the second tanks are coupled with a processing unit configured to determine automatically which one of the tanks feeds the drilling fluid to the drilling process. The processing unit may be part of the control unit of the drill rig, or it may be a separate unit. The processing unit may comprise a memory. The processing unit may monitor the state of the tank and

N when the tank is empty or getting empty it automatically changes the function of

N the tank(s). Then the tank, which was earlier used to produce more drilling fluid = 25 and discloses the drilling fluid enough (is substantially full), is used for feeding and - respectively the other tank which was earlier used for feeding and is empty is now i used for producing more drilling fluid. For example, one or more sensors, coupled & with the processing unit, may be used to monitor the state of the tank(s). = In an embodiment, producing of the drilling fluid in the tank is

N 30 automatic. For example, the processing unit, coupled with one or more sensors, may determine that the tank is empty, and the other tank is used for feeding the drilling fluid. Then the processing unit may start actions to provide more drilling fluid. The processing unit may determine what additives and how much shall be mixed with water in the tank. Further, an amount of water may be determined by the processing unit. The additives may be stored in reservoirs that are coupled with the tank such that the additives can be pumped by the pump into the tank. There may also be the fluid connection (with the pump) to the water source used for pumping water into the tank. The processing unit may further control the mixer in the tank and start the mixing process when the additives and water are in the tank and also stop the mixer when needed.

In an embodiment, the processing unit is configured to provide an alarm signal when the first and/or second tank is empty or getting empty. The alarm signal may be presented in the control unit of the drill rig, for example. In an embodiment, the first and second tank has a user interface in which the alarm signal is presented. The user interface may be configured to present also any other data relating to the function of the tanks like what is the state of the tank (feeding or producing drilling fluid), how much fluid is inside the tank, is the drilling fluid ready for use and/or is the mixer on, for example. The alarm signal may comprise an acoustic signal and/or a visual signal.

In an embodiment, the extension module is removably coupled, by the coupling interface, with the surface drill rig. This means that the extension module is configured to be removable from the drill rig if it is not needed anymore. The coupling interface or coupling members of the coupling interface may comprise

N bolt(s), threaded bar(s) and/or nut(s), for example. In other words, mechanism(s)

N that can be opened with or without the tools without braking structures. = 25 In an embodiment, the extension module is fixedly coupled with the - surface drill rig. The fixedly may refer to the coupling that is permanent and cannot i be opened without breaking the structures of the extension module and/or the drill & rig. The fixed connection may comprise welding, for example. = In an embodiment, at least part of a wall of the drill rig to which the

N 30 extension module is coupled is dismantled. The dismantling means that the wall between the extension module and drilling rig is at least partly removed such that internal spaces of them are combined. The wall may also be totally removed. The drill rig may also comprise a door in the side of the wall to which the extension module is coupled and only the door is removed to get the common internal space and a lane between them.

In an embodiment, the extension module further comprises a heater configured to heat the internal space of the extension module. The heater may be used to heat the common internal space of the extension module and the drill rig.

In other words, the internal space formed by the internal space of the extension module and the drill rig. In an embodiment, the heater comprises an under floor heating system.

Referring to an embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, at least one side OS of the extension module 100 is at least partly open. The open side may be coupled with the drill rig. As described above, one side of the drill rig may be dismantled to be open. For example, the one end wall of the drill rig may be removed, and the open side of the extension module is coupled with that open end. Hence, the internal space of the extension module and the drill rig are combined to form one unitary internal space.

In an embodiment, illustrated in Figure 1, the coupling interface 108 of the extension module 100 is on the open side OS of the extension module 100. In other words, the side of the extension module that is open also comprises features used for coupling the extension module with the drill rig.

Referring to Figure 1, in an embodiment, the extension module 100

N comprises a door 112 enabling entrance to inside the drill rig 102 having the

N extension module 100. The door may be placed in a side of the extension module = 25 thatis opposite to the open side of the extension module, for example. - In an embodiment, illustrated in Figure 2, the extension module 100 i further comprises foldable stairs 116. The foldable stairs are placed in vicinity of & the door enabling the entrance from the door as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, for = example. The stairs are configured to be extended from a ground level to the floor i 30 level of the extension module. The term “foldable” refers to stairs that can be lifted up and/or retracted for transportation, for example.

In an embodiment, the extension module further comprises a roof. The roof is not illustrated in the Figures. The roof may cover upper side of the extension module. The upper side refers to the side of the extension module that is opposite to the floor. The roof may cover the whole upper side of the extension module or justa part ofit. It may just cover the internal space but not the tanks, for example.

In an embodiment, the drill rig comprises a tarpaulin roof and the tarpaulin may be configured to cover the extension module as well. Then the extension module may not comprise the own roof.

In an embodiment, at least part of the internal space IS of the extension module 102 is used for storing the tools needed in the drilling process. The internal space of the extension module may comprise a shelf, a rack or any other feature 118 configured to receive the tools and storing them. In addition, the canisters of the additives may be stored in the shelf, for example.

According to another aspect, there is provided the surface drill rig comprising the extension module having any of the features described above.

The extension module enables integration of the drilling fluid tank(s) to the drill rig that makes the structure of the drill rig simple and further improves usability of the tank and drill rig. In addition, the extension module extends the inner space of the drill rig which brings many benefits since the inner space of the surface drill rig in which the sample handling is performed inside is very limited.

The extension module can be assembled to the surface drill rig that are already in the field allowing the upgrade of the existing drill rigs.

N It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that, as technology

O

N advances, the inventive concept can be implemented in various ways. The

O

N 25 invention and its embodiments are not limited to the example embodiments

O

N

O

N

Claims

1. An extension module of a surface drill rig, comprising: a floor and walls configured to form an internal space; a coupling interface configured to enable coupling of the extension module to the surface drill rig such that the internal space of the extension module is combined with an internal space of the surface drill rig; and atleast one tank for a drilling fluid having a fluid connection to a drilling process.

2. The extension module of claim 1, wherein the extension module comprises a first and a second tank for the drilling fluid wherein both tanks have the fluid connection to the drilling process.

3. The extension module of claim 2, wherein when the first tank is configured to feed the drilling fluid to the drilling process, the second tank is configured to be used to produce the drilling fluid.

4. The extension module of claims 2 - 3, wherein when the first tank is empty, the second tank is configured to feed the drilling fluid to the drilling process and the first tank is configured to be used to produce the drilling fluid.

5. The extension module of claims 2 - 4, wherein the first and the second tank is coupled with a processing unit configured to determine automatically which one of the tanks feed the drilling fluid to the drilling process.

6. The extension module of any preceding claim, wherein the extension module is removably coupled, by the coupling interface, with the surface drill rig.

N

7. The extension module of claims 1 - 5, wherein the extension module N is fixedly coupled with the surface drill rig. = 25

8. The extension module of any preceding claim, wherein the extension - module further comprises a heater configured to heat the internal space of the E extension module.

&

9. The extension module of any preceding claim, wherein at least one = side of the extension module is at least partly open. N 30

10. The extension module of claim 9, wherein the coupling interface is on the open side of the extension module.

11. The extension module of any preceding claim, wherein the extension module further comprises a door.

12. The extension module of any preceding claim, wherein the extension module further comprises a roof.

13. The extension module of any preceding claim, wherein the extension module further comprises foldable stairs.

14. The extension module of any preceding claim, wherein the extension module further comprises a thermal insulation.